Tile setting gauge



M rch 29, 1960 R. J. RODTZ, SR

TILE SETTING GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1955 FIG. 7

Visnc "SUB-FLOOR INVENTOR R. J. RODTZ ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,930,135. TILE SETTING GAUGE Robert J. Rodtz, Sr., Staten Island, N.Y.

Application May 20, 1955, Serial No. 509,811

1 Claim. (Cl. 33-180) This invention has reference to an improved method and means for use in laying and setting tiles as applied to fioors and walls. J

In the laying and setting of tiles by the method practised heretofore, as it is well known, the mechanic makes use of two reference lines or cords disposed at right angles to each other and tensioned in parallel relation to two adjacently disposed side walls of a room to serve as guides for aligning the first two coordinately disposed rows of tiles to be cemented onto the floor of such room, these rows of tiles in turn serving as guides for the successive rows in both directions, that is at right angles to each other.

While that practise has been found to somewhat assist in laying the first two coordinately disposed rows of tiles in an approximately straight line, the final alignment and the spaced relation between tiles in these first two rows and the consecutive rows is effected by sight approximation, resulting in considerable difference in the spaced relation between adjacently disposed tiles and between each row of tiles in the two directions, this .difiiculty in laying tiles by the use of the method practised heretofore, as above mentioned, being rendered still more difiicult because of the fact that considerable variation exists in the sides length of the tiles, with the result that a side of a tile .aligned with the cord and with the sides of other tiles in .a row, the opposite side of such tile obviously did not fall in alignment and in spaced relation with other tiles in other rows, thus necessitating the removal .of all the tiles and the repeating of the aligning and cementing opera- ;tion; such method of laying tiles as to straight line align- .ment of the rows, as to parallelism of the rows, space rela tion between the tiles and angular relation of the tiles relative to each other forming the rows, has been found to be va time consuming operation, diflicult and impracticable .even to highly skilled mechanics.

The object of the present invention resides in the pro- 'vision of a new method of laying tiles and of means used in such method whereby the angular and space relation, .and thealignment vof tiles in rows during the laying or setting operation thereof, may be effected in a simple and accurate manner by any inexperienced person, while rerguiring onlya minimum oftime and expenses.

Novel features of the invention will appear from the .following description and by the claim appended thereto, :reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a spacer member constructed in accordance with the present invention, having .a shape representing substantially that of a capital letter T molded with a pair of V-shaped bearing points at the free end of each arm for supporting the spacer member in any one of the two reversible positions, the vertical distance between the apexes of the V-shaped bearing points being substantially twice the thickness of the tiles thus forming a handle in any one of these two positions for placing and removing the spacer member free of 2 adhesive covering the supporting surface following the aligning of the tiles.

Fig. 2 is a view of a cross-shaped spacer member shown in perspective, constructed inthe manner of the spacer member shown in Fig. 1 adapted to be placed between and adjacent the corners of the tiles to be aligned in two directions at right angles to each other in conjunction with the T-shaped spacer member shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view of a fiat spacer member shown in perspective, constructed in the manner of the spacer members shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and for use in conjunction therewith for aligning tiles in spaced relation to the walls or base board moulding of a to tiles in other rows;

Fig. 4 is a view of a cross shaped spacer member modi fied, shown-in perspective, adapted for the aligning of; tiles in the manner efiected by the spacer member shown in Fig. 2, but showing means in the form of anupward projecting wing shaped portion or handle serving for the placing and removing such spacer member from the ad hesive covered supporting surface following the aligning operation of the tiles;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the T.- shaped spacer member shown in Fig. l but combining a handle element and a spacerportion, 'the'vertical height of the spacer portion corresponding substantially that of the thickness of the tiles; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the flat shaped spacer member shown in Fig. 3 formed with a spacer portion having a height substantially that of the thickness of the tiles and a handle portion coextensive to the spacer portion;

Fig. 7 isa side view showing two spacer members modified having four arms disposed at right angles to each other bowed to combine the spacer portion and the handle portion, such spacer members being shown in position between rows of tiles in edgewise relation, two of the tiles beingshown with portions broken away and one of the arms of each of such spacer members being shown in sections taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the spacer members of the tiles shown in Fig. 7, shown in alignment relative to each other;

Fig. 9 is a top view showing a number of spacer members which may be of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and 3 and 6, disposed in staggered relation to rows of tiles preparatory to their alignment by the use of straight edges disposed at right angles to each other, and

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing spacer members of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and a number of tiles in aligned position against the base board moulding of a floor as effected by'the movement of the straight edges toward the tiles in direction at right angles to each other, a number of the tiles being shown with portions broken away.

According to the present invention any of the spacer members shown in the several figures of the drawing may be used in the method of laying and setting tiles and may be constructed of any material, such as plastic, drop forged steel, stamped from sheet, molded metallic material, ceramic, clay, wood or any other fibrous material.

The spacer member MI, shown in Fig. 1 and in aligned position between titles Tl-T2 and T3-T4 shown in Figs. 9 and 10, has the shape substantially of capital letter T, with the arms 20, 21 and 22 formed integrally and at right angles .toeach other. Each arm, as shown in Fig.1, is provided at its free end with edge-like bearing portions as a-b, c-d, and e-f, respectively, while the vertical distance between the bearing portions a-b, c-d, and e-f are of a length substantially twice that of the thickness of the tiles as T1, T2, T3 and T4, etc., with which they may be used so as to provide means for handling such spacer members as for placing and removroom and in spaced relationin; them from their positions between tiles renewing the a'hgning of the latter in coordinate disposed rows onto an adhesive covered supporting surface as will be hereinafter described in detail, while the small pointed contact surface areas of the bearing portions ab, c-d and ef hold the T shape surface of such spacer members elevated above the adhesive covered supporting surface for the tiles while permitting the spacer members to be easily detached for removal from the fast drying adhesive which has been deposited onto the supporting surface for the tiles free of adhesive.

The spacer member M2, shown in Fig. 2, may be constructed of any of the material above mentioned. In this spacer member the four molded integrally formed radiegrten ding arms 23, 24, 25 and 26, are disposed at r ght angles to each other in thejorm of a cross-shaped figure, to serve -astspacis at the adjacently disposed corners of any four tiles, such as T1, T2, T3 and T4, form ng the rows, as best seen in Fig. l0, 'I-hearms 23, 24, 25 a nd ztg of the cross shaped member M2, like that of the T shaped spacenm'embe'r M1, are provided with hearing points b, c, e and 'g, on one of its, face and w 1th bearing points a, d, f and h, to the "lower face, as viewed in Fig. 2, for supporting the body portion of the spacer member elevated above the adhesive on the t1les supporting surface in any one of its two effective spacer positions. Thevertical distance ofthe arms 23, 24, 25 and 26, including the bearing points, are substantially twice the thickness of the tiles, thus providing a handle in any of the two positions,- which handle may be gripped by the fingers for placing and removing the spacer from the aligned tiles.

The spacer member M3, Fig. 3, is of rectangular shape, and like the spacer members M1 and M2, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be cast of either metallic or plastic material, or punched from a sheet with a vertical distance at its middle length portion substantially twice that of the thickness of the tiles with which it may be used, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so as to furnish a handle, which may be gripped by the fingers for the purpose of placing and removing the spacer member from between the tiles, while the ends of the spacer member M3, like that of the spacer members Figs. 1 and 2, are provided with bearing portions a'b and e-f so as to furnish a minimum amount of contact surface area which may adhere to the adhesive on the floor during the aligning and to facilitate their removal from the tiles assembly following the cementing operation.

The duplex construction of spacer membersshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, possess the'fcat'ure of being reversible and thereby greatlyincreasingtheir life in actual use.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 disclose modificatiofis of-the's'pac'er members 'above described in connectionwith Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These spacer members M4, M5 and M6 however are each provided with a wing-shaped or like proectron 38, 39 and 40, respectively, forming handles serving for gripping such spacers with the fingers as for placing them into position and removing them from the adhesive covered supporting surface following the aligning-and the setting of the tiles. In this modified type, the vertical dimension-of the-arms portions, as 29, 30, 31 and 32,- Fig.'4,'aresnbstantially equal to the thickness of the tiles, resulting'in the saving of a considerable amount of material and the consequent lighter weight.

The spacer member M5, shown in Fig.- 5, like that of the spacer memb er Ml'shown in Fig. 1, i s-provided with threeintegrally formed arms 33," 34 and 35; "having vertical height substantially-thatof the thickness of the tiles and a 'wingflike shaped handle portion 39," extending upward from -thearms 35 and- 36nd like'fin' the spacer member shown in Fig. asmzesas facilitate the placing of the spacer member in pos'ition between-the tiles in the aligning operation of the latter 'ahd the Temoval offth'e spacer member following'the 'sett'ing of the tiles. The

4 arms 33, 34 and 35 forming the spacer member shown in Fig. 5, are disposed at right angles to each other and like that of the spacer members M1, M2, M3 and M4, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, are provided with similar bearing portions or points -a-, -d, and f-, so as to present the least contact surface onto the adhesive serving to secure the tiles to the floor and thereby making possible the detaching of the spacer member from the adhesive covered surface without the liability of disturbing the alignment of the tiles with which the arms of the spacer member contact in the rows.

The spacer member M6, shown in Fig. 6, is a view in perspective of a spacer member, modified by the provision of a wing-like projection or handle 40 formed in the plane and integrally with the arms 38 and 39. These arms are provided with pointed bearing portions as -i-- and so as to afford, as above mentioned, in connection with spacer members M1 and M2, Figs. 1 and 2, a minimum surface or contact area on the adhesive supporting suit-face for the tiles as that of a floor so as to facilitate the removal of such spacer member following the aligning and setting of the tiles, such removal being further facilitated by the provision of the handle 40 extending upwardly from the arms 38 and 39.

The spacer member M7, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is economically constructed as by punching it from a sheet metal having the thickness of the joint desired between the tiles, with its arm portions -k, -l-, mand 'n--- extending radially in four directions at right angles to each other and each pair of arms bent or bowed to form semi-circular shape, the free ends --r-, --o--, and -'-q-- of the arms k--, --l-, -mand -n-- themselves'forming bearing points of minimum contact area for supporting-the spacer member from the adhesive covered supporting surface for the tiles while the intersecting point of the arms which extends above the surface of the .tiles serves as handle for placing and removing such spacer member from the adhesive covered supporting surface following the setting of the tile. Spacer members'of the construction shown in Fig. 7 may also be constructed having either three or two arms as shown by the molded spacer members M1 and M5 or M3 and M6, that is, in the form of geometricalfigures representing either a T, or with the arms disposed in axial end to end relation Fig. 6,.in addition to the crossshaped spacer member M7 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 above mentioned.

The laying of tiles-on-an adhesive covered supporting surface-by the method and with the use of the spacer members-of the present invention the tiles to be cemented andthe spacer members areplaced in their proper locations and approximate or random aligned relation in rows in a manner to rest lightly over the adhesive covering a flat supporting surface which may be, for example, the fioor of a room. The above step is then followed by applying a straight edge, as SE1, in position, as shown in Fig. 10, that is sidewise of the tiles forming one of the outer disposed rows and moving the straight edge SE1 against the tiles and against the spacer members M3, sidewise to cause the positioningadjustment of the tiles collectively which position ,occurs when the tiles and the spacer members are in abutting relation to each other and in line parallel relative to the straight edge SE1. A second straight edge SE2 is afterward placed along the outer row of tiles at right angle to the straight edge SE1, above mentioned, to serve for successively imparting collective sideway movements tothe tiles to cause their positioning adjusting movement in the coordinate disposed rows, such aligning sideway movements may be effected simultaneously in conjunction with the movement of the straight edge SE1 until the tiles and the spacer members are all positioned in abutment against each other and, as the case may be,-aligned against the wallmoulding of the room irrespective of the dimension difierence in the tiles themselves, this tiles adment on the adhesive covered supporting surface could be easily moved sideway collectively against each other and against the spacer members by the use of straight edges for alignment in coordinately disposed rows while the removal of a single tile in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the floor for the purpose of individual adjustment in a row was a difiicult and impracticable operation.

The arms forming the spacermembers M1 to M6 inclusive and M7 may be constructed of a thickness to vary according to any width of joints between the tiles, as desired.

What I claim is:

A spacer member for use for aligning and spacing tiles relative to each other on a supporting surface, said spacer member consisting of a plurality of radially extending rigid formed'arms of rectangular cross-section'disposed relative to each other to form a cross-shaped geometrical figure, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing elements 6, carried by each of said arms at the free end thereof, said elements forming in cooperation with said arms two reversible spacer positions, said elements being adapted to support said member at a distance from the supporting surface in each reversible position, the longer sides of the rectangular cross-section of each of said arms having a length substantially twice the thickness of the tiles forming a portion in each reversible position adapted' to be gripped by the fingers for placing in and removing said member from between the tilesfollowing the alignment of the latter on the supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,675 Galassi May 10, 1921 1,662,300 Covell Mar. 13, 1928- 1,742,103 Sholtes Dec. 31, 1929 1,836,964 Girgsby et a1. Dec. 15, 1931 1,865,825 Bried July 5, 1932 2,031,684 Berger Feb. 25, 1936 2,111,003 Petty Mar. 15, 1938 2,466,919 Sykes Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 559,051 Germany Sept. 15, 1932 374,404 Great Britain of 1932 

